Chapter 1391: Chapter 1391: I Have an Older Brother

"Deputy Magistrate Tang’s rank is lower than Magistrate Xi’s, since his superior has already given him the gift, he had no choice but to accept it and expressed his thanks again, "Thank you, Lord Magistrate."

Gu Jinli, however, began to harbor suspicions in his heart. It was one thing for Magistrate Xi to send them gifts, but why send them to General Guo as well... This case has nothing to do with General Guo.

Could it be that Magistrate Xi wants to use them to climb up to General Guo, so that he could borrow troops from General Guo in case of future needs?

His guess was correct; that was indeed Magistrate Xi’s intention.

Furthermore, Magistrate Xi not only wanted to ingratiate himself with General Guo but also with Master Ouyang, hence he prepared so many gifts.

"The hour is late, you should set off now. I won’t see you off." Magistrate Xi called for Squad Leader Shi and had him lead the Government Officials to escort Gu Jin’an and his company out of Tong’an Prefecture’s city.

...

After sending the people off, Squad Leader Shi returned to report, "My Lord, Deputy Magistrate Tang and his company have left safely. Rest assured."

"Understood." Magistrate Xi nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Doesn’t your household have two grown sons? And your elder brother’s son, who has been learning martial arts from you since childhood? Bring them all over and let Steward Su have a look. If there are no issues, they can work in the government office."

Both his sons and his nephew could enter the government office!

Squad Leader Shi was shocked, thinking he misheard, and dared not respond.

Steward Su gave him a push and smiled, "Squad Leader Shi, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank Lord Magistrate."

Only then did Squad Leader Shi come to his senses, kneeling down with a thud, tears streaming as he said, "This humble servant is immensely grateful to Lord Magistrate... You are like a second parent to the Shi Family!"

With that, he knocked his head on the ground three times.

Magistrate Xi was quite pleased and, after receiving the gesture, waved Squad Leader Shi away.

Steward Su wanted to laugh at the scene; Squad Leader Shi was excessively grateful. The reason why Magistrate Xi allowed Squad Leader Shi’s sons and nephew into the government office was mainly because there was truly no one else available to use now.

Squad Leader Lin had already taken a squad of Government Officials to guard the Jia family, and they’ll need to guard until the New Year. The current times are chaotic, and who knows when desperate farmers might revolt. The government office needed more officials.

After Squad Leader Shi left, Steward Su said, "You are indeed wise, my Lord, turning your attention towards the Ouyang family and General Guo."

Magistrate Xi smiled, "Although Junior Minister Ming wasn’t roped in, the Ouyang and Guo families are not bad, it was not a loss."

Then he added, "This Gu Family boy is not to be underestimated. A refugee ends up being favored by so many powerful figures, that’s truly..."

Vexing with jealous admiration!

Steward Su said, "Gu Jin’an is quite learned, the second Small Three-Yuan Scholar in Jianghuai. It’s not surprising that nobles are interested in him."

Magistrate Xi scoffed, "There are plenty of learned people out there. If you ask me, the Gu Family’s ancestral grave is truly blessed for the Gu Family boy to have this much luck!"

...

Meanwhile, on the road from Tong’an Prefecture to He’an Prefecture, inside the Gu family’s carriage, Gu Jin’an was pleading with Young Master Dou, "The person returning the gifts from Magistrate Xi requires the help of Young Master Dou. Thank you for the trouble."

"Ha, Gu Jin’an, you think you can brush me off with just a few words? On this trip to Tong’an Prefecture, haven’t I taken care of numerous troubles for you?"

Young Master Dou was seizing the chance for benefits, "I’m a businessman; profits are my concern. How about this: exchange with me a hundred premium hams."

The Gu Family’s hams are categorized, and the premium hams are visually appealing, taste exquisite, and are truly rare delicacies.

"A hundred hams? That’s robbery!" Brother Cheng protested, "No way, a hundred premium hams are too many, they’re worth a lot of silver, can’t just give them to you for free."

Young Master Dou was quite exasperated; reaching out, he pinched Brother Cheng’s cheek precisely, angrily saying, "Brat, you still dare to be stingy? After how much I’ve helped your family, is asking for a hundred hams too much?"

Give them to me or I’ll pinch you to death.

"Ah, let go, it hurts!" Brother Cheng grasped Young Master Dou’s hand, but being just a child, he was nowhere near as strong as Young Master Dou, his face reddening from the pinch.

Young Master Dou grinned and said, "Brat, are you even a man? Crying out in pain from a pinch, worthless."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jin’an frowned, raised his hand to grip Young Master Dou’s wrist joint, and squeezed hard.

"Ouch!" Young Master Dou let go in pain, glaring at Gu Jin’an, "You keep spoiling him, turning him into a worthless creature that will cling to you for the rest of his life, making you take care of his every need."

"Nonsense, my Brother Cheng is already quite sensible, not worthless." Gu Jin’an, after checking Brother Cheng’s face and finding no skin broken, was relieved. He then warned Young Master Dou, "Don’t pinch his face; leaving a scar wouldn’t be good."

Young Master Dou replied disdainfully, "So what if he has a scar? A man should have some scars."

Besides, this little Gu Jincheng has been raised fair and chubby, comfortable to pinch.

Brother Cheng said, "I’m not a military general; I plan to be a civil servant like my brother. Having a scar would make people laugh at me."

So stop pinching me!

Young Master Dou leaned against the carriage wall, staring at Brother Cheng, "Ha, want me not to pinch you? Then practice your martial arts more. Once you can beat me, you’ll be able to protect your face."

"Humph!" Brother Cheng, rendered speechless, lay next to Gu Jin’an, "Brother, I’m hungry and cold."

Gu Jin’an, hearing this, retrieved a still warm pastry from the cart’s box and handed it to him, then took out a quilt and covered him.

Young Master Dou, watching in annoyance, told Gu Jin’an, "He’s already nine years old; you really shouldn’t spoil him like this. He’s not disabled. If he’s hungry and cold, can’t he solve it himself?"

Gu Jin’an replied, "You needn’t worry I’ll spoil him. At home, he takes care of himself. This time, since he did well, got Hu Dawen to testify, and contributed, I’m just treating him well now."

Moreover, Brother Cheng would soon be nine years old—in this culture, nine marks the onset of maturity. Even if Gu Jin’an wished to, beyond this point, Brother Cheng might no longer appreciate being tended to. So he seized the moment to care for him while he was still young.

And another reason is due to the Third Miss incident; I was too harsh on Brother Cheng, and I don’t want him to fear me as his brother. So lately, I’ve been conscientiously looking after him.

Young Master Dou, utterly speechless, bewilderedly asked, "Why are you so good to something like a brother?"

He had two younger brothers at home, yet he fervently wished he could pinch their lives away right then!

Gu Jin’an turned towards Young Master Dou, seeing in his eyes unabashed animosity, he solemnly stated, "Your stepmother tried to harm you, and your two brothers also wanted you dead, hence you naturally have no affection for them. But Brother Cheng and I are full-blood siblings; I’ve been taking care of him since he was born—the very first day—and it’s like I raised him single-handedly. I’m eleven years older, and we’ve endured the hardships of famine together, survived life-or-death adversity, so the bond naturally differs from what you’ve had."

He added, "I’ve long wanted to tell you this: among brotherly feelings in the world, the type that exists between Brother Cheng and I is more common. Yours is the exception. Don’t let your family’s situation cause you to resent all younger brothers."

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